It's not all positively spun doom and political activism here at Oil Free Fun (OFF). Everyone once in a while -- well actually just about every day -- we have a lot of fun out of doors. Usually skiing or climbing mountains. As such, we're pretty stoked to see the new...
Dynafit's new freeride-touring binding comes with brakes in the following millimeter widths: 90, 105, 120, 135. Each pair, according to the manufacturer, weighs 935 grams. This is a free hundred grams heavier than Dynafit’s current beefiest binding the TLT Radical FT (DIN 12, 599g) but still less than half the weight of the competition. For example the Fritschi Freeride (DIN 12) weighs in at 2200g and the Marker Duke (DIN 16) weighs in at a whopping 2780g. In short, the new Beast 16 weighs in at less than half of the Fritschi Freeride and at about a third of what the Marker Duke weighs.
I’ve been a big fan of Dynafit bindings for the last decade ever since I wore out my second pair of Fritschi Freerides, hated my Naxo’s, and finally made the switch. Even Dynafit’s lightest bindings outperform most alpine bindings in flex tests and are second only to Marker’s (heavy) touring bindings in that regard. The Beast 16 looks to be totally reengineered relative to their current offerings so it will be interesting to see how well this performs. I would wager that it will perform solidly, as Dynafit’s German engineering has produced the best touring bindings in the world for decades.
Everyone who doesn’t have a Dynafit AT setup in Jackson Hole, WY is either a snowboarder, a sledneck, too broke to afford a touring setup, or a hucker worried that Dynafit bindings can’t handle their radness (specifically the landings). The huckers could be taking another look at Dynafit’s ultralight boots and bindings with the unleashing of the new Beast 16 binding weighing in at a mere 935g per pair.
This winter you could get your hands on a pair of the new Dynafit Beast 16 AT bindings, but the limited edition run of 2,500 total bindings is supposedly selling for $1,000 a set. These will undoubtedly sell out fast as Dynafit is a premier manufacturer of Alpine Touring Bindings and the new Beast 16 (with a DIN up to 16!) could very well change the game.
Dynafit's new freeride-touring binding comes with brakes in the following millimeter widths: 90, 105, 120, 135. Each pair, according to the manufacturer, weighs 935 grams. This is a free hundred grams heavier than Dynafit’s current beefiest binding the TLT Radical FT (DIN 12, 599g) but still less than half the weight of the competition. For example the Fritschi Freeride (DIN 12) weighs in at 2200g and the Marker Duke (DIN 16) weighs in at a whopping 2780g. In short, the new Beast 16 weighs in at less than half of the Fritschi Freeride and at about a third of what the Marker Duke weighs.
I’ve been a big fan of Dynafit bindings for the last decade ever since I wore out my second pair of Fritschi Freerides, hated my Naxo’s, and finally made the switch. Even Dynafit’s lightest bindings outperform most alpine bindings in flex tests and are second only to Marker’s (heavy) touring bindings in that regard. The Beast 16 looks to be totally reengineered relative to their current offerings so it will be interesting to see how well this performs. I would wager that it will perform solidly, as Dynafit’s German engineering has produced the best touring bindings in the world for decades.
Definitely stoked to put these through the ringer and put out a proper gear review. Hey Dynafit! Hook a brother up!
Feast your eyes on these pics!
DYNAFIT PRESS RELEASE
It’s all in the name – ski touring supplier DYNAFIT is presenting a brand new binding design for winter 2013/14. Dynafit’s binding designers have hit the fall-line and are targeting ambitious freeriders with a binding for all conditions and terrain types. The frameless system is combined with great stability and robustness up to DIN 16 integrating top performance on the ascent with an aggressive downhill ride.
Former pro freerider and design technicians Fredrik Andersson and US pro skier Eric Hjorleifson have brought new disciplines into play for ascent-focused ski touring specialist DYNAFIT. Together, they have been developing the new binding model, the Beast 16. Their demands for the freeride binding were clear from the outset: top downhill performance, DIN value of 16, optimum ascent comfort all courtesy of the frameless system – and naturally not forgetting lightness. The weight of 935 grams makes the binding a maverick in the freeride binding ascent category
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The frameless system, which celebrates its 30th anniversary at DYNAFIT in 2013, saves lifted weight and provides the ideal pivot point on the ascent. So the designers’ decision to arm the proven system with the requisite downhill characteristics was a logical step. The Beast binding has been fitted with a sophisticated release mechanism. This provides release at both the toe and heel units, while the rotating toe piece has been designed in such a way that it combats premature release potentially caused by sudden impacts. The binding’s ultra-low height gives freeriders perfect ski-to-snow contact. A stable and smooth ride thanks to the subtle lean-forward angle and high-level torsional rigidity as a result of the wide baseplate are all features unique to the new DYNAFIT binding.
Freeride pros Eric Hjorleifson and Fredrik Andersson used their long years of experience, as well as their ethos of creating the ultimately versatile skiing experience, as inspiration for the new design. DYNAFIT athlete Hjorleifson said “New-generation skiers need equipment that ensures equally top performance whether you’re jumping, skiing off-piste and cross-country.
The Beast 16 is available this coming winter in a limited run of 2,500 bindings, all individually numbered and delivered worldwide.
In other words: “Limitless Skiing”.